AfD leads eastern Germany with 45%, CDU collapses to 12% in Forsa poll

A Forsa poll shows the AfD at 45% in eastern Germany, far ahead of the Left (15%) and CDU (12%), signaling a major realignment in the region. The CDU's third-place finish marks a historic low and a serious crisis for the party ahead of federal elections. The poll reflects sustained right-wing populist gains but is a single snapshot with margin of error.